Monkeypox first appeared in Europe a few months ago. There are now more than 16,000 patients with the virus worldwide, the vast majority of whom are on our continent. That’s a distressing increase, which has caused the World Health Organisation (WHO) to sound the alarm. Since 23 July, the monkeypox outbreak has officially been deemed a ‘health emergency of international concern’.


Until recently, monkeypox was only found in African countries. But since May, more and more infections have been reported worldwide. The virus is spreading rapidly, especially in Europe and the United States.

The number of patients is steadily increasing in Belgium, too. For example, on 25 July, the regional authorities counted 393 confirmed cases, whereas the previous week the figure was 311 (+26%). It is therefore important that countries take outbreaks of the virus seriously and prepare for more infections.
 

The emergency situation does not mean that predetermined measures are suddenly put into effect. It does, however, allow the WHO to make non-binding recommendations and to take international cooperation to a higher level.

Monkeypox may be a well-known disease, but many countries have no experience with an outbreak of the virus. Moreover, there is a lack of alertness and prior knowledge about the disease. That is why the WHO is now signalling that the situation is serious and that governments must work together to protect vulnerable groups; speed up research into drugs, treatments, and vaccines; and increase preventive measures in hospitals.

The WHO has declared a ‘global medical emergency’ seven times. The organisation also sounded the alarm for swine flu (2009), the Ebola virus (2014 and 2019), and the Zika virus (2016). In addition to monkeypox, the state of emergency currently also applies to the corona and polio viruses.

Such a state of emergency is thus declared not only for a pandemic, but for any notable outbreak that requires cross-border coordination. Many experts agree that the monkeypox outbreak fulfils this condition, although the virus will most likely not spread to the general population. Men who have multiple sexual partners are particularly at risk of infection.

Nevertheless, it is important that everyone is aware of what the virus is and how it spreads. Close skin-to-skin contact can transmit the disease. Healthcare personnel or people living with a monkeypox patient must therefore take the necessary measures to prevent infection.

Read more: How do you avoid monkeypox in the workplace? Six frequently asked questions